15. CANADA AND THE EUROPEAN WAR. Though the world at large was sur prised by the outbreak of the great war, there was, in fact, for this little justification. Alarms enough had been given. In 1909 there was in England an acute crisis in regard to expendi ture to meet Germany's naval preparations. The crisis extended to Canada, which was with out either an army or a navy. Appeals were made in the Canadian Parliament that the country Should put itself in a position to do something effective in case of a conflict. These demands embarrassed the government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. His strength was in the French-speaking province of Quebec, where the people, detached for a century and a half from France, the mother-land of their race, and not stirred by the sense of unity with British ideals felt in English-speaking Canada, were disposed to make preparations only to meet the dangers of a direct attack on Canada. The most violent spokesman - of this school of thought was M. Henri Bourassa, grandson of a former stormy leader in Canadian politics, Louis Joseph Papineau. When Sir Wilfrid Laurier sub mitted to Parliament plans for the creation of a Canadian navy, M. Bourassa attacked him as a jingo-imperialist. Like many others, Sir Wilfrid Laurier hoped that the dread of the horrors of war would lead to effective restraint by the more sober-minded people in Germany and elsewhere to prevent an actual outbreak. He proceeded reluctantly to spend money upon a navy and in 1911, when he fell from power, had gone no farther in concrete results than to create a naval college at Halifax and to pur chase from the British government and to man two small warships.
During the election of 1911, M. Bourassa had assailed with great bitterness the policy of creating a Canadian navy as likely to drag Canada into imperialistic wars in which she had no vital interest. In the election, the Conserva tive party, in fact, imperialistic in spirit, had worked in a loose alliance with the anti-imperial Nationalists of Quebec. Con servatives had attacked Sir Wilfrid Laurier's naval policy but, unlike the Nationalists, on the ground that it aimed at too little rather than too much. When in power, with an adequate majority, the new Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, had to formulate his naval policy. To
meet Nationalist demands, he rejected the naval policy of his rival, not on the ground that it was not needed but that it was inadequate. As a first step, and to show the earnestness and sincerity of Canada to give aid in the great crisis which he declared was near, he passed through the Canadian House of Commons in 1913 a measure providing for the immediate building, at a cost of about $35,000,000, of three dreadnoughts to be placed at•the disposal of the British government until such time as Canada should have a navy of her own. This would, he said, give time to mature an adequate naval policy while she would meanwhile be giving effective assistance in naval defense. After prolonged discussion the Senate of Canada, which still contained a Liberal majority, re jected the new naval bill. Before this impasse between the House of Commons and the Senate had ended, war broke out on 4 Aug. 1914, while Canada was still without any naval equip ment that would count in the great struggle.
It may be that this helplessness in regard to effort on the sea made the Canadian people the more zealous to equip a great army when once they realized the issues raised by the war. At any rate the outbreak of war was met in Canada by astonishing resolution and en thusiasm, to take part in what the Canadian people believed to be a vital struggle for liberty. It is a mistake to say that the motive was chiefly to help Great Britain. Help to Great Britain Canada was most ready to give, but Canada did not enter the war as a child coming to the help of a parent. It was in the spirit of partners in a great crusade that the Canadians wished to join English, Scotch, Irish, Aus tralians and others in fighting side by side with the French and other allies. No doubt it was due to Canada's political tie with Great Britain that her people saw so quickly the issue in volved. They had no suspicion of aggressive designs on the part of Great Britain and thus met with quick sympathy her resolve, after the invasion of Belgium, to declare war. On the nature, however, of the issue itself and not through any compulsion to follow Great Britain, Canada fought. It was certain that, in time, the people of the United States would view the war exactly as the Canadians viewed it.